Chapter 681: Friend, Have You Heard of Five Fingers Mountain?

The divine envoy in midair reached out and straightened his own neck with a sickening crack.

The mocking cruelty on his face vanished, replaced by fury.

He looked at Zhu Bajie, only to find that the man he feared was not pursuing him.

The thought "Why isn't he chasing…" had not fully formed when the divine envoy's neck suddenly tightened.

He was seized by a hand.

That hand was small, belonging to a child; normally, it could not hold fast.

Yet the divine envoy felt his entire body imprisoned, the bones in his neck groaning under unbearable strain, about to shatter completely the next second.

Not a bend that could still be twisted back, but a total shattering.

His body spun uncontrollably; the hand gripping his nape moved forward, and Tang Luo pressed the divine envoy against the warming cylindrical pillar.

His hunched form was forcibly straightened.

Due to the hand's owner's height, the divine envoy was forced to kneel directly on the ground.

Before the divine envoy could retaliate, Tang Luo activated Xuan Bian in his hand, transforming it into an axe.

Unadjusted to his current physique, the axe appeared disproportionately large, making one wonder if it would slip from his grasp.

The Xuan Bian axe became a blur, flashing past the divine envoy's side.

The wooden crutch fell to the ground, one piece landing alongside the divine envoy's severed limbs.

The thick, dark red blood this time could not seal the massive wound in a short span.

The divine envoy emitted a painful wail.

The Xuan Bian hammer transformed into a Xuan Bian sword, piercing the divine envoy's chest and pinning him to the copper pillar.

"This temperature is too low for the esteemed divine envoy," Tang Luo said, gazing at Zhu Bajie and Ao Yulie.

The two nodded, raised their hands, and thunderbolts descended.

Turning the fire pillar into a thunder pillar.

Earlier, Ao Yulie had already proven that thunder was effective against this divine envoy.

Zhu Bajie's yin thunder was additionally sinister, eroding the divine envoy's body.

Soon after, an excruciating pain, worse than limb severance, surged from behind; the divine envoy gasped, his miserable wails unceasing.

But how could he, bereft of limbs, escape the Xuan Bian sword?

Even a slight movement brought piercing agony; widening the wound endangered his life, so the divine envoy dared not struggle.

Among the crowd recently stunned by the dragon's roar and now regaining consciousness, some saw the divine envoy's miserable state, heard his wails, and fainted again from fright.

"Hahahaha!"

A laugh like a cuckoo weeping blood rang out; that emperor, that middle-aged man, whose face had been wooden except for a fleeting moment of ferocity, finally became animated.

He looked like a person, yet not like a clay or wooden puppet.

"Good, good, good!"

He shouted "good" three times in succession, his disheveled hair flying, resembling a madman.

"Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty."

Several ministers, seeing the emperor's state, shouted loudly, wishing to approach and cover his mouth.

"You'd better not laugh—this laughter will laugh the Yangyang Dynasty into oblivion!"

But the Yangyang emperor's madness, even laughing blood-tears, made them hesitate again.

One wail, one grim laugh.

In this magnificent palace, they formed a strange, eerie picture.

Soon, the divine envoy grew hoarse, lacking the strength to wail loudly.

The Yangyang emperor also ceased laughing, slowly walked over, picked up the pearl crown again, did not wear it, gazed at it for a while, then suddenly flung it aside, hurried to Tang Luo's rear and knelt: "Please, little master—holy monk, save my family's lives."

This world does have Buddhist monks.

It also has cultivators, though cultivators make no distinction between Buddha and Dao; they share a single title: Qi Practitioners.

Qi Practitioners are few in number, possessing power beyond that of ordinary mortals.

The Yangyang emperor clearly regarded Tang Luo and his companions as Qi Practitioners… and… demons!

Demons differ from the few human Qi Practitioners.

They are ferocious and violent, bloodthirsty and mad, a group immensely powerful, endowed with intelligence, even capable of assuming human form as demonic beasts, and simultaneously enemies of the heavenly gods.

In their war against the heavenly gods lasting hundreds or thousands of years, the demons were defeated.

Some demons fled into the legendary "Nine Abysses"; a few demons lingered on the earth, struggling to survive while evading the heavenly gods' pursuit.

Another portion of demons surrendered to the heavenly gods, becoming their divine pets, among whom are the dragon clan.

Ao Yulie's recent dragon form was thus taken by the Yangyang emperor as a dragon among demons.

Dragons who did not surrender to the heavenly gods are now called magic dragons, evil dragons.

As for dragons who surrendered to the heavenly gods, naturally, they are divine dragons.

The combination of Qi Practitioners and demons suddenly appearing to torment the divine envoy—could demons be seeking to reappear on the human earth and reignite a great war?

Regarding the war between demons and heavenly gods, there are no written records.

Only numerous myths passed down orally.

In these tales, humanity's role is as demon fodder; the heavenly gods defeat the demons and save them.

The heavenly gods' protection of human survival naturally makes them the masters of humanity.

The master's command is absolute; those who abandon the master meet no good end.

Before the Yangyang Dynasty, there was an example: five hundred years ago, before the Yangyang Dynasty existed.

At that time, the dynasty ruling the mortal realm was called the Great Li.

Under the rule of the Heavenly Gods, the Great Li Dynasty flourished and prospered, yet it gave rise to thoughts that should not have arisen.

The last emperor of the Great Li Dynasty, that sinner, sought to replace the Heavenly Gods' position.

Because of his ambition, he brought ruin upon the entire Great Li.

After the Great Li Dynasty was destroyed by divine punishment from the Heavenly Gods, the Kaiyang Dynasty was established upon its ruins.

But because of the Great Li's actions, the Heavenly Gods were angered.

The Kaiyang Dynasty has always struggled, and although it has lasted five hundred years, it shows little sign of prosperity.

Several decades to a century ago, the ancestors of the current emperor were diligent and governance, vaguely showing a trend toward creating a prosperous age; observing the imperial palace and capital city reveals some indications.

But alas, the Heavenly Gods' punishment has not ceased.

By the time of the current emperor—Si Zhong—the Kaiyang Dynasty is utterly listless and declining.

Former prosperity was like the brief bloom of the udumbara flower.

Moreover, the Divine Envoy forced the death of Si Zhong's young son five years ago.

Now, Qi practitioners and demons have suddenly appeared, tormenting the Divine Envoy, almost becoming the final straw that breaks the camel's back.

The Kaiyang Dynasty seems to have reached its end.

Si Zhong, who keeps kowtowing without cease, does not wish to become a ruler of a fallen state, forever etched upon the pillar of shame in history, nor does he wish for his people to suffer the ravages of war.

He has thought of a possibly feasible solution for salvation.

"Hush, don't make noise." Si Zhong raised his swollen, bleeding forehead, wanting to plead again, but was interrupted by Tang Luo.

"First, be quiet for a moment. The poor monk has questions to ask." Tang Luo said, the Divine Envoy having already been roasted to about six-tenths done, suitable for questioning.

The soldiers slowly awakening around, after initial confusion and panic, now gather together, weapons in hand, difficultly encircling and closing in.

The strength of the Qi practitioners and demons.

They see it with their eyes, fear it in their hearts.

But if nothing is done, even death might become a luxury.

"Everyone, stop!" Si Zhong stood up and shouted loudly, "Step back! All guilt, I, the sinner Si Zhong, shall bear alone!"

The soldiers glanced at each other, their movements slowed slightly, but they did not completely stop.

The imperial command obviously pales in comparison to the fear of the Heavenly Gods.

"Step back! I command you to step back!" Si Zhong roared fiercely, "I alone bear the burden—you still have a chance to live!! All guilt, I, the sinner Si Zhong, shall bear alone!"

He repeated his previous words once more.

This is the only method Si Zhong devised after his "laugh."

Acting against the Qi practitioners and demons, the other side will certainly not be lenient.

And the Divine Envoy, having been wounded, certainly needs someone to bear responsibility; Si Zhong bearing death alone, if it appeases the Heavenly Gods' wrath, there remains a chance to continue the Kaiyang Dynasty—if the Heavenly Gods' anger subsides, one may be chosen from a distant branch of the Si family, unrelated even by eight poles' reach, to establish a new ruler and continue the Kaiyang.

But the Si family will surely not survive.

This is also why Si Zhong asks Tang Luo to save his family.

At least preserve the last trace of the Si family's bloodline, not wishing for the Kaiyang to perish by his hand, nor wishing for the Si family's bloodline to be cut off here.

Si Zhong's fierce words and stern expression finally caused those soldiers to halt their steps.

"Wake up."

Tang Luo stood before the Divine Envoy, waving his hand in front of the Envoy's eyes.

The Divine Envoy's head swayed slightly.

Tang Luo reached out, seized the Xuanbian Sword, and gave it a slight pull; the Divine Envoy's body trembled, emitting a sigh like that of a bursting bellows, and only after a long time did he recover.

"Friend, have you heard of the Five Finger Mountain?"

Seeing the Divine Envoy "awaken," Tang Luo asked his first question.

Naturally, the first question is about the Five Finger Mountain.

As for spirits and such, seeing them send a Divine Envoy makes them act arrogantly, as if they wish to inform the entire world, feeling no need to ask.

A little investigation would likely reveal the gods' undergarments.

As for internal matters unknown to outsiders, they can be set aside for later.

The Five Finger Mountain is the paramount concern.

At that time, Tang Luo dwelled high in the heavens, glanced down, and saw the Five Finger Mountain, but could not determine its direction.

Knowing a place but not its exact location—what to do? Certainly ask the locals.

This world has no navigation.

"Five Finger Mountain?" the Divine Envoy said weakly, "I don't know Five Finger Mountain; I know nothing..."

"Huh?"

Tang Luo felt a bit doubtful; looking at his appearance, he truly does not seem to be lying.

"I know nothing, truly nothing, I am merely an ordinary person whom the Heavenly Gods bestowed the position of Divine Envoy upon." The Divine Envoy said.

This Divine Envoy, above ten thousand people in the mortal dynasty, speaks and it becomes law.

But actually, he differs greatly from the traditional understanding of an envoy's status; he is merely a dog used by the Heavenly Gods to deliver messages.

His status may even be inferior to that of a divine dragon.

Do not look at the Divine Envoy speaking wildly against Ao Yu Lie—that is because he is certain Ao Yu Lie is the demon dragon among demons.

It is absolutely impossible for him to be the Heavenly Gods' favored divine dragon.

Even if he truly saw a divine dragon, the Divine Envoy could only cower and make himself small.

Why is the lofty Divine Envoy in such a state? Because becoming the Heavenly Gods' messenger is already a great honor.

Besides the strong body bestowed upon him, everything else cannot be possessed anymore.

There was no possibility of any enjoyment.

From prime of life to twilight years, the Divine Envoy had only sleep as rest.

His twisted personality was thus produced bit by bit.

Unable to enjoy anything, not even the sliver of comfort ordinary people could have was possible to possess.

Then watch others' pain, listen to their miserable wails.

"You know nothing, so what did you come for?" Tang Luo said, "To stroll the main street?"

"Proclaim the divine edict, conscript another hundred thousand able-bodied men for the crystal mines."